Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-06-11
A sLUGGING MATCH.

III r
Heavy-Weights in Great Falls
Many Bruises, but nc
Fatal Injuries.
F%irst-ayenue South was the scene We'd
nesday of a disgraceful fight between
Con Morris, a plasterer, and William
McGeehan. a boilermaker. Morris and
Mcclellan, who are chums, have been on
a spree. They slept in the same room
Tuesday night and met In the morning at
Cnrley Jim's saloon. Morris missed his
revolver and accused Mcclellan OF steal
ing. Mcclellan denied that he took the
revolver. "If you don't give me that re-
yolver, I'll thump you,'' said Morris. Some
words followed and he struck Mcclellan
in the mouth. This reused the blood of
the boilermaker and he dared Morris to
come outside and have it out. They went
across the avenue to a vacant lot, and both
took off their coats, but retained their
undershirts.
The brutal fight began without any for
mality in presence of a small crowd which
gradually increased in number until it
looked as if a circus had come to town.
People docked from the n%eighboring
saloons and many persons from Central
who take no interest in prize fights,
came to see what was going On.
IN THE N
In the first round Mcclellan clinched
and threw Morris, who came down heavi-
ly. The contestants were soon again on
their feet and warmed to the work.
Blows fell thick and fast on each others.
faces and the round ended with a knock
down by Morris, who struck the boiler
maker a severe blow in the face, causing
him t stumble against a stone and fall.
In the third round, both men fought
ssuhbornly, Mcclellan, who is the shorter
of the two, showing considerable science.
Both clinched and fell with Mcclellan on
top.
The fourth round was a regular smuggling
match. Morris butted Mcclellan with
his head and both received severe punish
ment, The round ended with a clinch,
both falling.
Mcclellan now took his shirt off, and
stripped to the waist prepared for another
round. Jim Mccarthy, who acted as his
second, spenged him, and Tom Kennedy
did the same service for Morris.
Fighting was resumed, both men being
rather groggy. From thi $ until the final
round, when Judge Hwy came on the
ground and stopped the fight, the men
fought gamely and punished each other
on the mouth and eyes. Blood flowed
freely and the combatants presented a
herrid spectacle as they We're led away to
the river.
1t was remarked that Morris rallied in
the eighth round, and was decidedly the
hest wrestler, being taller and slighter
than Mcclellan, who is thickset but well
proportional.
Both men were SO disabled at the finish
that it was plainly a case where the
seconds might have fairly interfered and
declared it a draw. Each had been drink
ing, but Mcclellan, it was said, had taken
no regular meals for some days and had
probably more drink on board than Con
Morris.
THE ECO
Con Morris, who was born of Irish par
ents in England, has had some experience
in prize fighting. He was the champion
of Illinois from 1872 to 1875, and defeated
in the ring Capt. ]. H. Dalton, Pat Cow
ran, Steve Taylor and Tom McAlpine-
The last named contest was for the heavy
weight medal of Illinois. He is an in
dustrious, intelligent man, who has not
been engaged hithertoi in any."scraps."
DWilliam Mcclellan has likewise
figured in the prize ring in this country
and abroad. His father was Irish and his
mother Scotch. He took part in some
sparring matches (Marquis of Queens
bury rules) at the regular ring in East
Bow, London. In California, he defeated
Harry MaYnard's, two negroes, "Black
Diamond" and "Sunny South" He was
acquainted with Morris in the old coun-
try. He is a Woodworking boilermaker
and says he "never stole Morris's gun"
He certainly does not seem the kind of
mar who would do sc.
Rumors were current that the fight
would be renewed at the river-bank, but
Judge Huy wen there promptly and
warned the pugilists that there must be no
more fighting. Secretary Nichols also
went to the river and notified Mcclellan
that such slugging matches will not be al
lowed on the townsite. Mcclellan said
that he was provoked into the fight and
didn't intend to cause any disturbance in
the city.
It appears that Mcclellan, in addition to
<ho roo,,d ohova fo,,rht pi1J Rrorka and